My father has a 57 Ranchero with a 1958 352 FE in it, (Block # 5751066) (Heads# 5752143) which I know is not a traditional Y block, but know that someone here will know the answer to these questions, As most Y block guys are also Ford guys at heart...

Its a 300HP 352 4V Interceptor engine and has the original PBL7676B (1958-1960) Torque Converter housing, but has had the cruisomatic removed and a FMX from 1969 (C9ZP7008A) mated up behind it. It all works incredibly well, However it is out of the chassis for a detail / tidy up and we noticed that it has about a 4mm gap between the FMX and original 1958 TC Housing that is packed out with flat washers.

I know that there has been many Cruiso's changed out to FMX before, I have seen it many times in threads and articles, is there a spacer that is required to do this rather than washers???????

Although everything works terrifically it looks a bit agricultural if you get my drift and if there is a spacer available I would get one or I would just make one to suit.

Or am i missing it altogether here???????

All help appreciated, cheers

With 4mm being about 0.157”, then you could potentially stack 2 of the FE block plates back to back against each other and make a spacer that will accomplish the same spacing as the stacked washers and end up removing some of the stress from around the bellhousing bolt holes.  These block plates were pretty standard fare on most of the later model FE’s with standard and automatic transmissions.

You’d probably have to cut the starter portion off of the block plates though to keep the starter teeth at the same or current distance to the flywheel.  This is something you’d need to check before actually doing the cutting as there’s a chance the starter is sitting marginally too close now.  You didn’t mention if the starter was spaced forward with washers also. 

It sounds like the converter is slightly too long for some reason.  Is it a stock one or a rebuilt.  When the converter is installed and the bellhousing and transmission bolted up, there should be a little fore/aft movement of the converter.  No clearance will probably cause a ruined front pump with attending cast iron filings running through the transmission.  Luckily someone recognized it and spaced the trans back.  Try removing the washers and checking for movement of the converter.  As Ted says, the FE uses a block plate, if it is missing, that will move the transmission forward and may be the reason for the washers.  Generally the FMX is a bolt in swap.

John

You are 100% right we had a look and there is no block spacer at all, on further investigation, with the washers out the trans mounts right up but wont turn, move it out about 1.5 mm and it turns freely. So it looks like all we need is a FE block spacer.

You guys rightly hold your titles of Co Ordinator and Supreme beings... Thank you.

Regards